The Homeland Security Department is always looking for skilled operatives that can ensure the security of the United States.

The elevated demand however, does not entail that they are willing to hire just anyone and the selection process – which is viewed as harsh by many – is a necessary step to ensure that the resources of powerful federal agencies and their data does not fall in the wrong hands.

There are several HS schools that can provide relevant training programs in the US and this guide focuses on the proper means to decide which one is more suitable.

The Importance of the Selection

We would like to point out that even though the educational programs provided by the HS schools are largely similar, the candidate should be mindful of the distinctions – expertise of the tutors, focus of the program, tuition fees, duration of the program, the possibility to study online and offline, prerequisites, etc.

In other words, even though certain schools are listed among the top of their class, that does not necessarily entail that their characteristics are compatible with every individual student.

For instance, the curriculum of a certain HS program could place a higher emphasis on border patrol and customs operations, which is working against the student who was aiming to follow a career in cyber security.

Therefore, when evaluating the Homeland Security schools, it is advisable to be mindful of the specifications for each learning program.

Take Your Pick from the Top Homeland Security Schools

Let’s analyze the most popular Homeland Security schools at the moment. It is worth noting that these educational facilities also provide Criminal Justice degrees, for those interested in an alternative law enforcement career.

American Intercontinental University Online: This institution is regarded as one of the ideal options for Homeland Security aspirants due to the fact that it can provide both Associate’s Degrees and Bachelor’s Degrees in a wide array of related fields that include forensic sciences, legal procedures in law enforcement, special population techniques (for Customs and Immigration Enforcement), and etc.

Colorado Technical University: Confers Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees as well, but the emphasis is placed on the theoretical legal aspects of the field and criminal psychology (useful in terrorist negotiations).

University of Southern California: This learning facility also enables students to follow Master’s Degree programs that focus on risk level assertion, human behaviour studies, national and international scale conflicts as well as on developing effective decision skills.

Tulane University in New Orleans: The courses, which can also be followed online, are ideal for candidates who are shooting for a Bachelor’s degree in either cyber security, crisis management, history and sociology of the Middle East, constitutional legal aspects, and etc.

These are just a few of the options available and candidates should remember that the Homeland Security schools are constantly evaluated based on their performance in training candidates, so their ratings are not written in stone. At the same time, the evolution of the Homeland Security Department entails that new programs are created every year, in accordance with their personnel needs.